THE IMPORTANCE OF MICROCHIPPING

WHAT IS A MICROCHIP?

A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is encoded with a unique ID number that will be assigned to your pet. No two microchips have the same ID number.

The microchip is placed between your dog’s or cat’s shoulder blades under a veterinarian’s supervision.

Implantation is quick, easy and virtually painless — similar to a vaccine injection — and can be performed during a regular veterinary check-up visit.

FACT: PETS WITH MICROCHIPS ARE UP TO 20 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE REUNITED WITH THEIR OWNERS.

A collar tag isn't enough. If your dog's collar breaks or its collar tag falls off or becomes illegible, a microchip permanently identifies your pet to help your pet get back to you if it is ever lost or stolen.

HOW A MICROCHIP IS READ

A microchip is not a tracking device. It can only be “turned on” for a few seconds at a time by a handheld microchip scanner that is passed over the area the microchip is implanted to read the microchip’s unique ID number.

Veterinarians and shelters have these scanners and use them to help lost pets all of the time.

Veterinarians also check pet’s microchips during annual wellness exams to make sure all is working properly and secondly to start a conversation about whether or not your information is up to date on your pet’s microchip enrollment record.

WHY ENROLLING A MICROCHIP IS IMPORTANT

As a member of AAHA Pet Microchip Lookup, we enroll any brand of microchip! When you enroll your pet’s microchip, your pet’s ID is linked to your name, phone numbers, emergency contacts and other vital information in AKC Reunite’s database. When your lost pet is found, we can then immediately send you text messages, emails and begin contacting all the phone numbers on your pet’s record to reunite you as quickly as possible.

Also, if you ever need to update your pet’s information, because of a move or new job, you can make updates to your pet’s enrollment online or by emailing us for no additional charge!

ALL ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MICROCHIPPING YOUR PET

If your pet’s collar breaks or its collar tag falls off or becomes hard to read, a microchip permanently identifies your pet to help your pet get back to you if it’s lost or stolen.

Watch this video to learn more about why you should microchip your pet.

MICROCHIPS ARE REQUIRED FOR TRAVEL

An International Health Certificate is required for pet travel – and in most cases, a microchip is too. If a microchip is required, the pet must have the microchip prior to starting the Health Certificate process.